Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Grading magnification

BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,015 ✭✭✭✭✭
Having never submitted a coin for grading, what is the maximum power of magnification used by the grading cos. to determine their grade assignment? I suppose they could use a super powerful magnification level where even the most miniscule deformity could be detected. So at what level do they stop the mag. strength at?
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".

Comments

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,794 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Having never submitted a coin for grading, what is the maximum power of magnification used by the grading cos. to determine their grade assignment? I suppose they could use a super powerful magnification level where even the most miniscule deformity could be detected. So at what level do they stop the mag. strength at? >>



    Most grading is done with the naked eye but a 5X is occasionally used to determine if a coin is "perfect" before a 70 grade is assigned. I'm sure they have stereo microscopes and an electron microscope available for authentication purposes.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,015 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Having never submitted a coin for grading, what is the maximum power of magnification used by the grading cos. to determine their grade assignment? I suppose they could use a super powerful magnification level where even the most miniscule deformity could be detected. So at what level do they stop the mag. strength at? >>



    Most grading is done with the naked eye but a 5X is occasionally used to determine if a coin is "perfect" before a 70 grade is assigned. I'm sure they have stereo microscopes and an electron microscope available for authentication purposes. >>

    Thank you for your response. When I wrote out the question I had temp. brain drain trying to remember electron microscope. Thanks for that reminder as well. If/when I go to submit any coins I want to pre-grade them, so I know what to look for based on the mag. level the grading services use. Then get a dealers opinion or opinions here.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • Wabbit2313Wabbit2313 Posts: 7,268 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You can click on the grading video and see the process. I also have heard it is a 5X loupe.
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,015 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>You can click on the grading video and see the process. I also have heard it is a 5X loupe. >>

    I did watch the video. This may have been commented prior, but I did notice w/in the video the graders handled the coinage w/o gloves,albeit on the edge. Is this proper procedure?
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • CoinCastCoinCast Posts: 510 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>You can click on the grading video and see the process. I also have heard it is a 5X loupe. >>

    I did watch the video. This may have been commented prior, but I did notice w/in the video the graders handled the coinage w/o gloves,albeit on the edge. Is this proper procedure? >>



    Yes, that is proper procedure

    5x loupe is most common for graders; they usually use the wide field loupes. Some dealers I know who were past graders like a 7x, but 5x seems more common.

    Partner @Gold Hill Coin

  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,015 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So all coins are handled in the grading process w/o gloves as it shows in the video? In another thread here the OP states having a fingerprint on his coin that he assumes was put there by the person putting the graded coin in the holder. Would'nt the use of gloves prevent this? I believe in years past I've seen pictures of Mint employees handling proof coins with gloves.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,941 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The likelihood of fumbling about and dropping coins makes gloves difficult to use.
  • PurfrockPurfrock Posts: 545 ✭✭✭
    I must admit that I would be frustrated if my proof coin came back with obvious fingerprints regardless of the assigned grade. Still, I understand that
    gloves are cumbersome and could lead to dropped coins.
    EAC, ANA Member
  • Wabbit2313Wabbit2313 Posts: 7,268 ✭✭✭✭✭

    These guys know what they are doing. Should they also be in space suits and have a sneeze guard?
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,794 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The likelihood of fumbling about and dropping coins makes gloves difficult to use. >>



    Couldn't they just work over a padded surface?

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file